Manish Sisodia to be quizzed by ACB in DCW recruitment case today

Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia will appear before the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) today in connection with its probe into an alleged recruitment scam in Delhi Commission for Women (DCW).

"In the documents that were probed by the ACB, it was found that there was a letter from the office of Sisodia that had authorised DCW as a body with financial autonomy. As per rules, only the LG can grant financial autonomy to a body. We will be questioning him on this aspect," said sources from the ACB.

The ACB had taken up the probe on a complaint by former DCW chief Barkha Shukla Singh, who alleged that several AAP supporters were given plum posts in the women's panel.

However, Delhi Commission of Women chief Swati Maliwal had rubbished the allegations about Mr Sisodia's role in appointments made in the women's panel.

"Shocking. Manish Sisodia has no role at all in DCW appointments. Why is he being summoned by ACB?" she tweeted.

Ms Maliwal was questioned by the ACB at her office on September 29 for over two hours in connection with the same issue.

Stating that it was found prima facie after an enquiry that there were confirmed irregularities in the appointments in DCW, ACB Chief MK Meena asserted that the panel does not have the authority to make such decisions and that they were not even implementing a transparent manner in the case, like advertising about the job vacancies.

“The complaint stated that these people have done the recruitment against the procedures and they do not have the authority to hire people in that manner. Besides that, they are giving out salaries on an arbitrary basis and on their own call. There are also some people who got jobs because they were close to those within the panel,” he said.

Emphasising that this was a complete misuse of authority and funds, the ACB chief said that a case has been filed against DCW Chief Swati Maliwal under the Prevention of Corruption Act and IPC sections.

The DCW is under the ACB scanner for arbitrarily appointing 85 people in the past year.

Around 90 per cent of contractual staff of the Delhi Commission for Women, led by Maliwal, are members of her party.